LASK beats Celtic 5-1 after extra time to overturn four-goal aggregate deficit
Austrian club LASK advanced to the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time after defeating Celtic 5-1 in Linz, overturning a 4-0 aggregate deficit to win 5-4.
A four-goal cushion erased
Celtic entered the second leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff tie at the Raiffeisen Arena holding a 3-0 lead from the first leg in Glasgow. The Scottish champions extended that aggregate lead to four goals in the 21st minute when captain Callum McGregor scored with a deflected 18-yard strike. Martin O'Neill's side missed two further opportunities to extend their lead before halftime. LASK responded in the 32nd minute, when Moses Usor scored to level the match at 1-1 on the night and reduce the aggregate deficit to 4-1.
Second-half collapse and extra time
The Austrian side, managed by Dietmar Kühbauer, mounted a sustained second-half comeback. Robert Ljubicic put LASK ahead on the night in the 48th minute, before Samuel Adeniran scored in the 58th minute to cut Celtic's aggregate margin to 4-3. Celtic suffered defensive setbacks when Colby Donovan left with an injury in the 74th minute, replaced by Dane Murray, while Cameron Carter-Vickers also picked up an injury. In the 91st minute, substitute Florian Flecker headed in a rebound after Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo stopped a header from Joao Victor Tornich. A VAR check confirmed that Murray played Flecker onside, leveling the aggregate score at 4-4 and forcing extra time.
- Callum McGregor scores to give Celtic a 1-0 lead on the night and a 4-0 aggregate lead
- Moses Usor scores to equalize at 1-1 on the night
- Robert Ljubicic scores to put LASK ahead 2-1 on the night
- Samuel Adeniran scores to make it 3-1 for LASK
- Florian Flecker scores a rebound header to level the tie 4-4 on aggregate
- Samuel Adeniran scores his second goal in extra time to give LASK a 5-4 aggregate lead
- Viljami Sinisalo saves a penalty from Samuel Adeniran
In the 109th minute of extra time, Adeniran scored his second goal of the night with a long-range strike after dispossessing Celtic substitute Luke McCowan. Sinisalo saved a penalty from Adeniran in the 115th minute, but LASK held on for a 5-1 victory on the night and a 5-4 aggregate win to secure their first appearance in the Champions League group stage.
Reactions to the defeat
After the match, McGregor admitted that the squad failed to handle the pressure after establishing their early lead.
We got what we deserved. We were passive all night. We looked scared to go and win the game.
Manager Martin O'Neill expressed disappointment with the defensive performance and the concessions across both halves.
We should have been out of sight by half-time. We scored a goal, which was great, we missed two great, great opportunities. And then we give them a lifeline just before half-time and then one just after it. And they come roaring back.
Financial fallout and European record
The defeat relegates Celtic to the UEFA Europa League group stage and costs the club at least £20 million in lost Champions League revenue. The result marks the second consecutive season Celtic have exited during the final qualifying round, following their penalty shootout defeat against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan after two goalless draws. The loss also leaves Scotland without a representative in the Champions League proper for a second straight year. Heart of Midlothian, who finished second in Scotland, were also eliminated in Austria during an earlier qualifying round after a four-goal defeat against Sturm Graz.
